It’s one thing to start up a brand new team at a school but it’s another to be state champions in the same year. This mere fantasy is the reality of Hoover High School’s dance team.
The team started up this fall and it gained much excitement throughout the halls of Hoover. Junior Addison Jenkins comments on her passion for the sport and why she joined the team.
“Along with some other members of the team, I helped create this team,” Jenkins said. “This has been something that many dancers at Hoover have wanted for a long time and as dance teams were gaining popularity, it was time our school needed one. I have always wanted to pursue my sport and passion through the school and [the] dance team has been the perfect way to do that.”
While the dancers make up the actual team, there’s someone who has to wrangle them together. Ms. Lauren Beard, the head coach of the team, had to make sure goals and expectations were set so they could have a good year.
“It was a process of learning as we [went,]” Beard said. “We just wanted to get a team together and do the best we could as a first-year group. We knew we were going to go to regionals and hopefully states. We never imagined winning! That’s not something most first-year teams accomplish, [so] that was a huge moment.”
Every team comes with its challenges, though and this was not something that Hoover’s dance team avoided.
“I have been a dance teacher for as long as I can remember but this was a different feeling, Beard said. “It was starting from nothing and trying to build something from scratch. I had a lot of help along the way to make all this possible.”
With many well-rounded students at Hoover it’s common for athletes to have other activities going on. Jenkins explains how she and others were able to balance this.
“All of the girls on the team are [also] involved on a competition team at a studio so our time is very limited,” Jenkins said. “Most of us spend about 20 hours at the studio every week. Because of this we only have one practice a week. This makes our practice time crucial and difficult to get the whole team together.”
Isabella Iero, a junior at Hoover and dance team member, offers a different insight on what was challenging to balance.
“The practices themselves weren’t too difficult to balance but the performances were a bit more challenging since they sometimes took time away from my studio commitments,” Iero said. “It was definitely tough to juggle both, but it was manageable. I had to be mindful of my schedule and prioritize but it was all worth it because I loved being part of the team and knew how important the performances were.”
In stressful situations it’s nice to have the support of your teammates and coaches. Freshman and dance team member, Ella Capozzi, explains how this was achieved on her team.
“The coaches supported us through the season by making sure we always knew they were proud of us and were by our side all season,” Capozzi said. “Being a first-year team was very new to everyone, including my coaches and my teammates. It sometimes got very difficult with certain things but it made a lot of us feel better knowing that our coaches were by our side for all of it. They were always cheering us on at practices and pushing us to the best we can be.”
Any team can practice and be successful, but it’s the extra mile that ensures success. Capozzi shares what the team did differently leading up to the state competition.
“Something we did differently leading up to states was facing the back of the room and not facing the front where all the mirrors were,” Capozzi said. “The mirrors are super helpful for everything but when you are actually competing on the gym floor, there are no mirrors in front of you for you to see what you are doing. Facing the back of the room gives us a chance to see how it feels when you are actually on the gym floor competing.”
Competing in general can be nerve-racking but it’s definitely a different experience for a brand new team. Iero sheds some light on what it felt like to be at the state competition.
“Most of our performances were at basketball games, which was a great experience for us to go out and show the people in the audience who we were,” Iero said. “We got to get in gym practice while also showcasing our talents to people who have never seen us dance. Though those performances were important, we all knew that if we messed up or did not hit everything perfectly, the world would not end. At states, everything was bigger. The stakes were higher and we all knew we needed to hit everything perfectly. The crowd at an event strictly for dance is like no other. Everyone was so supportive and it truly made the experience one I will never forget.”
It’s difficult to compete, especially with already established teams, but Beard was not worried about her team.
“I have always been a pretty competitive person with being a competitive dancer myself and now teaching it,” Beard said. “I just wanted the girls to represent Hoover well and for them to make an impact their first season.”
An important aspect of a coach is being able to calm the team down. Beard explains how she assured her dancers they’d do well.
“I’m sure everyone gets a little anxious going to compete at the state level but I think the girls felt it even more being their first time,” Beard said. “I just kept reminding them that they have worked so hard and grown so much. And all we can do is show up and do our best!”
Winning states is a huge accomplishment, especially for a new team. Iero explains how she felt after being a part of the winning team.
“Winning states in our first year was an incredible accomplishment that set the tone for future seasons,” Iero said. “It proved that all of our hard work was worth it and showed everyone what our team was capable of. It also gave us confidence and motivation to keep pushing ourselves, knowing we had built something strong from the very start.”
Not only was winning nice but it created a bond that Jenkins emphasises.
“The bond all of us share as a first-year team is so special,” Jenkins said. “We all went through the same challenges and had to work through them together. We faced difficulties, but at the end of the day, we had each other.”
Being a state champion is one thing but it also defines future seasons for the team. Capozzi highlights what the win means for Hoover.
“The team’s performance at states influenced the team’s reputation for future seasons by showing people Hoover has more talents than just the traditional football, basketball, baseball, [and] etc,” Capozzi said. “Hoover can bring home a state championship to show the state of Ohio we can do it all and not just be good at the traditional sports.”
